Holloway: I'm no fool

Ian Holloway led Blackpool to the promised land of the Barclays Premier League and then roared: "Don't brand me a clown".

The Seasiders' popular and engaging boss was, until Saturday, as well known for his one-liners and ready quips as for his achievements as a manager. But the rest of the top flight had better be braced for the arrival of Holloway and his unfashionable side after they secured the most lucrative, and the unlikeliest, of promotions with a thrilling 3-2 Wembley win over Cardiff.

"I'm not a clown, I'm not an idiot and I'm not madcap," said Holloway.

"I'm just a human being who tries to encourage other people and who sometimes needs encouraging himself - and I might need a lot of it next year."

Brett Ormerod scored the goal worth an estimated £90million to the famous old Lancashire club in first-half stoppage time.

DJ Campbell's run caused havoc in the Cardiff area and the ball broke for 33-year-old Ormerod to hit the 114th and most vital goal of his long career.

Cardiff led twice through Michael Chopra and Joe Ledley but they were pegged back by Charlie Adam's free-kick and Gary Taylor-Fletcher's close-range header.

Chopra was also twice denied by the woodwork as Blackpool held out for an historic win.

"I can't tell you how proud I am," added Holloway. "I think our spirit shone through. No matter how many times they hit us, and we were a bit punch drunk, but we got there on points in the end.

"It's way beyond my wildest dreams that this group of players have achieved something that I think history might not see again. Cardiff could score a goal against us but they couldn't beat our spirit."

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.

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